CELTIC VAR CONTROVERSY DEEPENS AFTER CAMILO DURÁN GOAL IS DISALLOWED AGAINST ST MIRREN
🚨 CELTIC VAR CONTROVERSY DEEPENS AFTER CAMILO DURÁN GOAL IS DISALLOWED AGAINST ST MIRREN
Celtic’s hard-fought victory over St Mirren has been overshadowed by another major VAR controversy after Camilo Durán saw a potential equaliser ruled out in a decision that left supporters furious.
The Hoops eventually secured a 2–1 comeback victory, but the match produced several moments that sparked heated debate, with VAR once again at the centre of attention.
Celtic found themselves behind after St Mirren were awarded a penalty, which was converted to give the home side an early advantage. The champions immediately pushed forward in search of a response.
Durán appeared to provide exactly that when he found the back of the net following a dangerous Celtic attacking move. The forward celebrated with his teammates, believing he had restored parity.
However, the celebrations were quickly interrupted.
The referee was instructed to review the incident, with VAR checking Durán’s position during the build-up. After the review, the goal was ruled out for offside.
The decision immediately triggered frustration among Celtic supporters, particularly because the margin appeared extremely tight. There was no obvious infringement to the naked eye, leaving many fans questioning whether the technology had been used correctly.
For Celtic, the decision was a major blow at a crucial moment.
Instead of going in level, the Hoops were forced to continue chasing the game. The players, however, refused to allow the decision to affect their mentality.
Celtic eventually found their equaliser through Liam Scales, who rose highest from a corner to head the ball beyond the St Mirren goalkeeper.
The comeback was then completed when Yang Hyun-jun found the decisive goal in the second half.
Interestingly, Durán played an important role in the move that eventually produced the winner. Despite having his own goal cancelled, he continued to work hard and contributed to Celtic’s attacking pressure.
But the VAR drama did not end there.
Celtic appeared to have added another goal late in the match, only for that effort to also be ruled out following another offside review.
That meant Celtic had two goals disallowed during the match, creating an extraordinary situation in which the champions had to overcome not only their opponents but also two controversial VAR decisions.
The incidents are likely to generate plenty of discussion among Celtic supporters in the aftermath of the game.
Offside decisions are often determined by extremely small margins, but that does not make them any less frustrating for players and supporters when a goal is taken away.
The Durán incident was particularly significant because it came at a time when Celtic desperately needed an equaliser.
Had the decision gone the other way, the entire momentum of the match could have changed much earlier.
Instead, Celtic had to remain patient and continue attacking.
Their eventual comeback will therefore be viewed as a sign of resilience. Rather than losing concentration after the controversial decision, the players responded positively and eventually found a way to secure all three points.
For Durán personally, the disallowed goal will undoubtedly be disappointing. Nevertheless, his contribution to the winning move means he can still take plenty of positives from the performance.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill will also be pleased with the character shown by his team.
Matches like this can easily become difficult when controversial decisions go against a side, particularly away from home. Celtic nevertheless remained composed and continued to create opportunities.
The victory keeps Celtic’s strong start to the league campaign intact and provides another example of their ability to win under pressure.
However, the VAR debate is unlikely to disappear quickly.
Supporters will continue to examine the footage and question whether Durán was genuinely offside by the margin identified by the officials.
The controversy also adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding VAR decisions in Scottish football, where fine margins have repeatedly become major talking points.
Ultimately, Celtic will take the three points, while St Mirren will be left wondering what might have been.
For the Hoops, the message is clear: despite the controversy, the team showed enough character to fight back and win.
But with two goals ruled out and both decisions requiring VAR intervention, the Camilo Durán incident is likely to remain one of the biggest talking points from the match.
